An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Rawalpindi on Thursday announced the verdict in the Benazir Bhutto murder case; the court acquitted five banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) suspects, announced 17-year imprisonment for both the police officials involved, and declared retired Gen Pervez Musharraf an absconder in the case, The Dawn reported.

Saud Aziz, who was police chief of Rawalpindi when Bhutto was assassinated in 2007, and Khurram Shahzad, a former Superintendent of Police (SP) at Rawal Town 10 years, were each awarded 17 years in prison. The two, who were out on bail, have already been arrested.

The five TTP suspects — Rafaqat Hussain, Husnain Gul, Sher Zaman, Aitzaz Shah and Abdul Rashid — have beean cleared of all charges.

The two former policemen have each been awarded 10 years in prison under Section 119 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and seven years each under Section 201 of the PPC.

They have also been fined Rs500,000 each; in case they do not pay the fine, they will have to spend another six months in jail, said the court.

Court has directed authorities to seize Musharraf’s properties.

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